Villa's McCartney goes for history

Kathy McCartney has been the face of the Villa Maria girls basketball team for nearly three decades, and in that time she’s built one of the most successful programs in all of Chester County.

But never in her wildest dreams would she have expected that to be the case when she first took over as head coach at the school 27 years ago, recalling with laughter a memory from her first year on the job.

“I remember the very first day I walked into Villa Maria’s gym for our first practice,” said McCartney. “I was so nervous. I wasn’t much older than the seniors on the team.

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“I remember thinking to myself -- boy oh boy, I really don’t have a clue what I’m doing. I learned you fake it until you make it. I’ve been faking it pretty good ever since.”

There’s nothing fake about the job McCartney has done with the Hurricanes over the years. She is one of the top high school girls basketball coaches to ever patrol the sidelines in the state of Pennsylvania.

This evening McCartney will hope to join some elite company when she goes for a personal milestone, as she seeks her 500th career win, when Villa Maria plays host to Sacred Heart at 5:15 p.m. in front of what is expected to be a packed house.

McCartney would be just the 22nd girls coach in the state to achieve the milestone, and just the second in Chester County history, joining legendary Downingtown East coach Bob Schnure.

“I feel a little humbled by the whole thing,” said McCartney. “I’m the coach and they will celebrate me today, but it’s the players that have done it throughout the years. I’m really just a clog in the wheel. This is really more of a celebration of the whole Villa Maria community.

“I’m excited for the game, and I’m looking forward to celebrating this with my team and my family at Villa Maria that I’ve worked with for a long time.”

The all-time coaching wins leader in Pennsylvania high school girls basketball is Mike Kopp of Allentown Central Catholic, the only girls coach in the state to amass over 800 career wins. Pittsburgh North Catholic’s Don Barth, who has since retired, sits second with 788 victories. Cheltenham’s Bob Schaefer, who is also now retired, is third with 757 wins.

Schnure, in over 30 years at the helm in Downingtown, has more wins than any coach in the county and is still going strong with well over 700 wins and counting. Schnure, who won his 700th game on Dec. 28, 2010, is soon expected to pass Schaefer as the all-time District 1 coaching wins leader.

Only four other girls coaches in the state have ever reached the 600-win plateau: Pine Grove’s Ron Rhen (675), Linus McGinty of both Archbishop Carroll and Cardinal O’Hare (664), Girard’s Larry Seneta (606) and University City’s Lurline Jones (600).

Romano just joined the club this past Saturday night in Jenkintown’s win over Lower Moreland.

McCartney, who is poised to become the second coach in three days to join the prestigious list, has picked up all 499 of her career victories at Villa Maria, which makes it a little extra special to her personally.

“It does,” she said. “Villa is such a great place, and it’s been an easy place to coach. There’s a lot of continuity to it over the years. I know every kid I’ve coached. And I’m old enough, though, that I’ve actually coached a daughter of one of my former players, which is a scary thought.”